Profile of Tumakuru district

Tumakuru district is named after its headquarters town, Tumakuru (Karnataka,

2014). The latter derives from Tummeguru, the original name of the place. The
district boasts of a few places of great antiquarian interest and several places of
historical importance. Sage Kadamba is believed to have had his hermitage near
Kadaba in Gubbi taluk. On his way to Ayodhya after the conquest of Lanka, Shri
Rama is said to have called on this sage at his hermitage for a brief sojourn,
during which, at the request of his spouse Sita, he ordered the river Shimsha to be
dammed so as to form a large lake here. Sampige in Turuvekere taluk is identified
with the ancient Champakanagara, the capital of Sudhanva of the Mahabharata
period. The Paleolithic artefacts discovered near Biligere and Kibbanahalli reveal
that certain places of the district were inhabited by the pre-historic man. The
district has a megalithic site too which is located on a crest of the low ridge near
Keralakatte village.

3.5.1 Location
Tumakuru district is located in the eastern belt in the southern half of the state.
Spanning an area of 10,598 sq.km. this district lies between the latitudinal
parallels of 12 degree 45 minutes North and 14 degree 22 minutes North and the
longitudinal parallels of 76 degree 24 minutes East and 77 degree 30 minutes East
(Karnataka, 2014). The shape of the district is somewhat irregular and has a
peculiar feature in that the north-eastern portion is totally detached from the
remaining areas of the district. This portion constituting Pavagada taluk is almost
surrounded on all sides by territories belonging to AndhraPradcsh, But for the fact
that on its western border for a very short stretch it touches Chitradurga district,
Pavagada would have been an enclave territory. Tumakuru district is bounded on
the north by Anantpur district of Andhra Pradesh; on the east by the districts of
Kolar and Bangalore; on the south by Mandya district and on the west and north-
west by the districts of Hassan and Chitradurga. In the mid-west, Chikmagalur
district too touches this district and shares a common but short border .
3.5.2 Rivers and forests
Shimsha, Jayamangali and Suvarnamukhi are the important rivers of the district.
Geologically, Tumakuru district is situated right on the Archean complex
(Karnataka, 2014). The rock formations are represented by the crystalline schists,
the granitic gneisses and the newer granites. The crystalline schists of this district,
which form the southern extension of the well defined Chitradurga schist belt of
the Dharwar system, are the oldest members of the Archean complex. About four
per cent of the total area of the district stands classified as forests. The forest
regions are found to a large extent on the lower slopes of the hill ranges. The
forests are mostly open and consist of mixed species varying from dry deciduous
to thorny bushes. Because of the scanty rainfall the trees are short, twisted, knotty
and full of branches. The forests contain few timber species and the wood that is
generally available is fit for use only as fuel. These forests have also been over-
exploited for decades and the free grazing facility permitted therein has had an
inimical effect on the natural and artificial regeneration. In the southern portion
however there are forest tracts containing tall and well grown trees. By and large
it may be observed that the soil, rainfall and climatic conditions are not quite
favourable for the growth of a rich and variegated vegetation. In the absence of
adequate forest cover the district has few species of wild animals. Tiger, panther
and cheetah are no longer found in these forests. Bear, wild boar, hyena, fox,
spotted deer and rabbit are the important species of wild animals encountered in
the district.

3.5.3 Climate
The climate of the district is quite agreeable and free from extremes (Karnataka,
2014). However amongst the taluks, Pavagada which is located in the north-east is
noted for its relatively hot climate. The year is usually divided into four seasons:
summer from March to May; rainy season or south-west monsoon season from
June to September; post-monsoon,season covering the months of October and
November and dry or winter season from December to February. Generally the
period from March to May is one of continuous and steady rise in temperatures.
The day temperature reaches a maximum of 41 degree Celsius at times. April is
the hottest month, During April as well as May there would be thunderstorms
followed by heavy pre-monsoon showers, in almost all parts of the district. With
the onset of the monsoon, the temperature drops appreciably and during the
monsoon, the weather remains pleasant. After October the night temperature dips
further. December is usually the coldest month, during which the minimum
temperature would be as low as nine degree Celsius on certain days. Relative
humidity is high during the monsoon period, moderate during the other months
and comparatively low during the summer afternoons, Winds are generally
moderate with some increase in strength during the monsoon months, especially
June and July.

3.5.4 Rainfall
The average annual rainfall in the district is 687.9 mm (Karnataka, 2014). This
amount of rainfall is subject to considerable fluctuations from year to year. Within
the district itself the northern and the eastern regions receive comparatively lesser
amounts of rainfall than their southern and south-western counterparts. The
average number of rainy days being 45, the number of rainy days varies between
35 in Pavagada located in the north-east and 54 in Tumakuru which enjoys a
central location. The precipitation during the south-west monsoon period usually
accounts for 50 per cent of the annual rainfall and remaining 50 per cent of the
rainfall is spread over the pre-monsoon months of April and Mayan the one hand
and the northeast monsoon months of October and November on the other. The
remaining months of the year are comparatively free from rains. September and
October are the months which are noted for heavy rainfall. It is during this period
that the numerous tanks of the district receive large quantities of water and get
filled to the brim. Delays in the onset of these rains, as also inadequate downpour
during this period, quite often cause great anxiety and hardship to the farmers of
the district. Certain parts of the district are known to be often affected by drought
and scarcity conditions.
3.5.5 Area and population
Tumkur district is comprised of 2,716 villages of which 134 are uninhabited,
according to Census of India, 2011 (Karnataka, 2014). The district is spread over
an area of 10,597 Sq Kms. The number of uninhabited villages has remained the
same between the Census period 2001 and 2011. Expectedly, the rural-urban
divide is strongly pro-rural with 77.6 percent of the population being rural
inhabitants. The literacy rate is 75 percent with the urban populace clocking a
little over 87 percent and the rural populace clocking a little over 71 percent. The
district boasts of a workforce of 13,54,646. There are 5,05,910 cultivators in the
district, of which 9,353 are urban-based. The district is comprised of ten Taluks,
namely: Chikkanayakanahalli, Gubbi, Koratagere, Kunigal, Madhugiri, Pavagada,
Sira, Tiptur, Tumkur and Turuvekere.

3.5.6 Agriculture and Horticulture

45,177 hectares of land are accounted for by forests, 85,281 hectares of land are
exploited for non-agricultural purposes and 67,539 hectares of land are barren and
hence uncultivable (Karnataka, 2014). Cultivable waste accounts for 62,642
hectares, permanent pasture accounts for 76,453 hectares and trees and groves
account for 21,033 hectares. Canals running to a length of 86.7 Kms irrigate an
area of 4,199 hectares in net terms. 1,642 tanks irrigate an area of 10,535 hectares
in net terms. 40,056 wells irrigate an area of 1,039 hectares in net terms. Tube
wells irrigate an area of 1,38,940 hectares in net terms. Ragi, Maize, Paddy and
Jowar, in that order, are the cereals grown most. Ragi is raised on 1,37,730
hectares, Maize is raised on 25,191 hectares and Paddy is raised on 14,868
hectares. Horse gram, Tur, Green Gram, Avare and Cowpea are the major pulses
raised on 23,598 hectares, 10,469 hectares, 9,676 hectares, 8,083 hectares and
3,569 hectares respectively. Groundnut, castor, sunflower and niger seeds are
among the leading oil seeds raised. They are raised on 83,983 hectares, 2,621
hectares, 1,779 hectares and 1,068 hectares respectively. Among the commercial
crops, sugarcane and cotton are raised on 2,653 hectares and 1,385 hectares
respectively. Among the plantation crops, coconut and arecanut are the major
crops. In 2010-11, 13,477 lakh coconuts were produced. 51,933 tonnes of
arecanut were produced. Banana, mango and pomegranate are the important fruit
crops raised. 86,496 tonnes of bananas, 82,767 tonnes of mangoes and 13,773
tonnes of pomegranate were produced in 2010-11.

3.5.7 Economy
The districts GDP is INR 14,334.83 crores and NDP is INR 12,772.42 crores at
current prices, 2011-12 (Karnataka, 2014). The per capita net district domestic
product (NDDP) is INR 49,031 at current prices (2011-12).